Chapter 5:

(Present)

"Merlin can you please go now?"

"What did I ever do to retrieve such treatment?"

"None, I want peace while I sleep!"

"What if you were attacked in the middle of the night?!"

"I highly doubt that. Since it has never happened before!"

"You can never be too cautious."

"Ugh! Fine!" she gives in and adds, "Might as well move in next door."

"What a splendid idea! I will be right back!" and he disappeared.

She sighed. Great! Merlin as a neighbor! Might as well take advantage of the alone time. Her room was fairly large. It is rectangular with a full size bed in the middle of one wall facing out. On the wall above were beautiful pictures that she has taken over the years. Below the foot of her bed was a large rug depicting Doctor Who images. Next to her bed was a little nightstand with a lamp, an alarm clock, and a box of tissues. On the other side of the room was a small table and two chairs. Lastly on the side, was a fairly large desk. On it were skew papers, a laptop, and a desk lamp. On the ceiling was an intricate chandelier with candle lights. Running to her closet, she quickly undresses and redresses in an old t-shirt and knee-length, loose sweatpants. She climbs on top of her bed and begins to climb under her bed sheets. She lays there for a couple of minutes until sleep claims her.

Sunlight just barely streamed through her window. She pulled the covers off, stepped onto the cold stone floor, and walked to her wardrobe. She opened it to find the rest of her wardrobe. Gwen was right, a lady must look like a lady sometimes given the state these dresses are in. Her favorite was the chainmail dress. The sleeves were chainmail and the main dress was maroon with a brown belt above the waist line. The other dresses were just as stunning with assorted colors. Some colors include; a bright sunny yellow, coral with aquamarine, blue violet, and plum with yellow. Unfortunately, she will not be wearing them until later because of training. So she grabs a shirt, the gambeson, a belt, the chainmail itself, a pair of pants, her undergarments, and a pair of boots that were by the door. In the middle of putting her clothes on when she remembered her task. In her hand laid a vial with light blue liquid. She smiles and sets it inside her wardrobe so no passerby discovers what it is.

After dressing completely, she runs down to the kitchens for some breakfast. People were bustling around to prepare for the later meals. She quickly finds Mary, the cook, because of her yelling.

"Excuse me."

She turns and barks, "Yes what is it?"

"Do you mind if I have a helping of bread and butter for breakfast?"

Mary stared at her.

"Mary? What's wrong?"

She snapped out of her revere.

"Not one of the knights ask me for food. Come, I will get you something."

She rushes off. Kathrine sighs. Oh no, this isn't going to turn out well. Mary will surely give her more than she can eat. She comes back with a plate of bread slices, red grapes, and some cheese.

"Thank you."

"No problem my lady."

"Kathrine please. I don't like the title all that too well."

"As you wish. And tell those bone-headed knights that they will not be stealing from my kitchens!"

"I will."

Mary walks away and begins yelling at some unfortunate soul. The bread was one of the nicer ones she has ever had. The grapes were a little sour for her likings but she could deal and the cheese was a nice, crispy cheddar. After eating, she went down to the armory to grab her sword. Inside were a handful of knights. She runs to the sword racks to find hers.

"Looking for this?"

She whirls around to meet Gwaine holding her sword.

"Yes, now can I have it?"

"What do you say?"

"Please?"

"Not that."

"Ugh, I will go to the tavern with you." She said sulkily.

"Now that's what I want to hear! Here." He hands her the sword. "What time do you want to go down?"

"How about never!" and she runs out with Gwaine chasing her. She keeps running while strapping her sword to her hip. The only time she stops was when she reaches the fields.

"Ah, Kathrine, you're here! Now all we need is Gwaine." Arthur says.

"Well, he is coming now since he is mad at me." She said.

"Why is he mad?"

"Long story short, I said that I wouldn't go to the tavern with him. And it seems you will get your fight now sire." She said and pulled her sword out because Gwaine was in eye distance.

The men laugh at her statement and start to move away to give them the room to fight. Soon, Gwaine enters the field.

"You are quite fast for a girl. But not fast enough for this!" And he swings his sword and she blocks it.

"Well at least I don't strike as slow as a worm." And the battle condenses.

Gwaine stays on the attacking side and she keeps parrying. Until finally she notices a slight slowness to his movements and she uses it to her advantage by taking the attacking side. She keeps pressuring him until they are in a position where she can take his sword. She thrusts her opposite hand up while their swords are in the air, twists his hand away, turns her back and holds her sword in front of his neck and the other behind him so he has no escape. Knowing the fight is over, she hands his sword back to him. She turns toward Arthur and the other knights to see gaping, smirks, and smiles. Merlin had the happiest look on his face. Arthur walks up to her regally with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Well done! Gwaine?"

"Yes princess?"

"How does it feel to be beaten by a girl?" Snickers ringed the field.

"I gave her advantage over me."

"Oh sure you did." Arthur says sarcastically.

"Do I see beats of sweat on your face?" Perceval asks.

"Shut up. What about you princess? You should fight her."

"Not now Gwaine. We have something called training right now." Arthur says.

"I agree. Maybe another day?" I add to support the king.

"No, now!"

"Tomorrow?" I ask Arthur.

"Agreed, tomorrow. Now, today is all about the use of a dagger."

Until lunchtime, she was stuck in training. During that time, knights came and congratulated her on her skills against Gwaine. Once lunchtime hit, she packed up and headed back to the citadel and to her room. She reaches her room quietly and begins taking her sweaty clothes off. She flung the wardrobe and takes out the yellow dress. While the dress was coming out, the vial fell out and smashed on the floor.

"No no no no no!" She quickly whispers.

Hearing the soft padded footfalls, she quickly sweeps the glass and liquid away. A knock sounds at the door.

"Come in."

Merlin opens the door with a tray of food in his hands.

"Thought you might've wanted lunch."

"That's so kind of you." She smiles and takes the tray from him.

She sits on the ground with the tray. They sit in silence for some time.

"So, how are you?" he asks.

"To be honest, a little miserable."

"Why?"

"Well. I am used to travelling and fighting for myself. Seeing lavish valleys, a sky blue lake and providing yourself with food when you find it. I was never a fan of having food on a plate and being served to me. I love being in the elements."

"I have a feeling you know how to cure this and it implies me taking the rest of the day off?"

"No. Just the afternoon."

"Why?"

"Well, I could very well get lost and the other knights don't really know what it is like out there."

"Actually they do."

"But you understand it better than anyone! And I want to get to know you better."

"Okay. I will be back."

"Actually, let me talk to him."

"Are you sure."

"Absolutely."

She shuts the door and begins to travel to the king's chambers. Upon reaching it, she knocks.

"Come in!" Arthur calls.

She opens the door to seeing him reading papers at his desk.

"Ah Kathrine. What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need to ask a favor."

"How did you manage to get Arthur to agree to this?" Merlin asks.

"You don't want to know."

They were on their horses on one of the trails leading out of Camelot.

"No. Tell me."

"Well, let's just say you and I have a long list of chores tomorrow."

"Ugh! Why did you say that?"

"I don't know. Just it seemed fair. At least we are not in a stuffy castle today."

"Whatever. What do you want to do?"

"Not sure. How about we go somewhere nice and look for herbs. Gaius might like a surplus."

"Maybe. I know! I am going to take you to a beautiful lake and you are going to like."

"Am I now? Is that implying that I am forced to like it?"

"Yes. Now, follow me." And they rode off.

Hours they arrived to their destination. They above a huge lake with an island in the middle and an obelisk in the middle. Fog rolled of the lake like waves on the ocean. Outlining the lake was rolling hills of forest. And it was beautiful.

"You were right. It is beautiful."

"I thought you would like it. Now, I saw a broken vial in your chambers and a bluish liquid on the floor. What is that all about?"

How? She was sure that everything was swept away! Well it is Merlin we are talking about.

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Can I please explain tomorrow?"

"No! I want to know now!"

"You have to trust me!"

"I do trust you! I just want to know where you got it!"

"Tomorrow! I promise! There will be someone in Camelot who can explain this more than I can! I promise!"

"Fine! Tomorrow!"

They sat in silence with the tension still running high.

"Well, let's not just sit here. And my butt is getting saddle sore." Merlin proclaims, breaking our silence.

"Yes. You are right. We came out here for a reason. Let's not dawdle on the past. What should we do first?"

"Food. I am hungry."

"Good point. How about I hunt and you gather plants?"

"Better than going hunting. Sure. Here in about an hour?"

"Sure. Good luck!"

"You too!"

An hour later, she had caught 2 rabbits. She walked back to their campsite to see no Merlin. She sighed. Might as well do something. So, she started gathering firewood. After collecting enough, she returned to still no Merlin. She dropped the firewood on the ground.

"Come on Merlin." She murmured.

A stick cracked.

"Merlin? Is that you?" she grabbed her sword and walked toward where the stick broke. Then, mercenaries jumped out and surprised her. She was quickly knocked out but before doing so, she saw a dark figure. A certain slender, black-haired figure.

Morgana.